"Bay windows hold their own risk. Because they are often supported by shallower foundations than the rest of the house, they are more vulnerable to settlement. Therefore, homeowners occupying these types of properties would be advised to watch out for cracks in their walls, sinking floors and jammed windows and doors"
- Freya Chapman - Mainmark UK
According to public body Historic England, over a quarter of the British population live in Victorian homes, built at one of the biggest periods of economic, political and social reform driven by the Industrial Revolution.
The challenge is that whilst built for longevity, they have inherent design issues which have resulted in numerous defects.
Characterised by their high ceilings and large bay windows, many of these homes are built on foundations as shallow as 20 cm – making them more susceptible to subsidence, especially if they are built on clay soil.
Freya Chapman of Mainmark UK explains that because most significant changes to soil’s moisture levels and temperature happen at the surface, homeowners of Victorian and Edwardian properties will need to plan ahead to prevent any costly damage.
Subsidence can occur when the ground beneath a building sinks, pulling the structure’s foundations down with it and causing damage.
Freya said: “While built of sturdy materials, these properties are more than 100 years old and over the decades have needed some upgrades to keep them habitable. Material decay, renovation, proximity to drains, mining history, and a change in climate – both seasonally and because of global warming – could all result in subsidence issues in period properties.
“Bay windows hold their own risk. Because they are often supported by shallower foundations than the rest of the house, they are more vulnerable to settlement. Therefore, homeowners occupying these types of properties would be advised to watch out for cracks in their walls, sinking floors and jamming windows and doors."
A semi-detached, three-storey Victorian home in Greater Manchester had been gradually experiencing these symptoms. The homeowner was concerned that if left untreated, the visible cracking that had appeared would worsen and was planning ahead in case they decided to sell the property. Because subsidence can devalue a home by up to 20 per cent, they didn’t want to gamble their finances and decided to act.
However, it wasn’t a difficult problem for the Manchester homeowner to rectify. Because period properties are built to different specifications from modern structures, they can often tolerate ground movement with relatively little need for concern.
Due to its coal mining history and porous limestone-based soils, homeowners in Greater Manchester might be familiar with subsidence risks. When paired with the age and architectural style of period properties, the depth of foundations and poor soil quality, subsidence could threaten not only the value of your property but also its safety.
It’s a similar story for many ex-mining towns across the UK. In Cornwall for example, period properties were built using mundic bocks – concrete slabs made from waste mining materials like sand, China clay and mine processing residue.
Freya explains: “Mundic blocks were mass-produced from the turn of the 20th century until the 1950s and in some areas until the early 1960s. They were a common building material in the South West and can crumble and break easily, affecting the structural integrity of a property.”
“Properties of this kind are extremely attractive buys, full of character and idyllic features. To ensure you are futureproofing these features, it’s vital to plan ahead to alleviate any stressful subsidence issues.”
